Machine for packaging merchandise



y 8, 1956 N, w. ASHE ETAL MACHINE FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1952 5 /Mm 3 mg m B 0 W n A A r m M D B [Veil Vl iAsize Help)? 12 Abs/ 61y and Fall/U2 y 8, 1956 N. w. ASHE ET AL MACHINE FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1952 m a w JNVENTORS fi eJ] WAS/2e Dan A. fllcjl azz H522 Fal /z'DZ us/rgy and Cit/v11: P Bassefi #4.. 4 44., 7 ATTOHVEYS May 8, 1956 N, w. ASHE ET AL 2,744,669

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE Filed July 29. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTORS 1141'] W As/ze D027 A/ifcflzgfifim Ralph Z2 Hus/{q and Ca/wn P Basseif ATT OFNE Y S y 8, 1956 N. w. ASHE ET AL 2,744,669

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE Filed July 29, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIII,

I INVENTORS Mei] W Ashe D072 A. Afr/141 4962522 [7&40/7 D HHS/{63y and [22/1/10 I? .Bassefi A TTOFNEY United States Patent 2,744,669 MACHINE FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE Neil W. Ashe, Ralph D. Huskey, Don A. McNaughton,

This invention relates to a machine for packaging merchandise, such as hose, in plastic containers formed of cellophane or other plastic materials.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a machine, of the type described, having means facilitating the opening of a cellophane container to receive the merchandise, and then to convey the filled container to a sealing unit, and thereafter to discharge the sealed container withits contents.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for carrying out the sequence of operations referred to above under conditions which permit the goods to be packaged while maintaining a high sanitary standard.

A further object of the present invention is to provide' adjustable means whereby containers of various sizes may be presented to the sealing unit.

Other and further objects and advantages of this in- A vention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification When read in the light of the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. l -is a partial perspective view of the machine shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the upper rotatable member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-section of the machine, partly in elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5, and showing the relative positions of the elements of this invention;

' Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3; a

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the elements of the invention;

Fig.7 is an enlarged top plan view, taken on the line 7--7 ofv Fig. 3, and illustrating the details of the driving tending collar 4. One end of a tubular support 6 is.

fixedly mountedin the collar 4, while the other end thereof is rigidly secured to an annular element 8.

Asis more clearly seen in Fig. 5, a plurality of supports,.s uch'as angle irons 10, have one of the ends of each secured to the underside of the element 8 at spaced intervals and radiate therefrom. The other ends of the angle irons 10 are rigidly affixed to the underside of an arcuately shaped slide plate 12 having a depending peripheral flange 14. Annular element 8 and slide plate 12 are arranged and disposed in substantially concentric relationship.

A shaft 16 is rotatably supported in a radial bearing 18 and a thrust bearing 20 housed in and secured to-:

the tubular support 6. Fig. 3 'ofthe drawings discloses rotation therewith. The table 24 (see Figs. 3 and 4) is formedwith a plurality of spaced, rectangular slots 26 positioned adjacent its periphery and having their longitudinal axis, at mid-point, substantially normal to one of the radii extending from shaft 16. A hollow guide 28 having asubstantially Y-shaped transverse crosssection (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) and open opposite ends 30 and 32, respectively, has its lower open end 30 aligned with and superposed over each slot 26.

Each guide 28, adjacent its lower end 30, is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed laterally-extending base flanges 34 utilized in affixing guides 28 in their respective relative positions, as by bolts 36. To serve a purpose to be described, the upper edge 38 of front wall 40 is lower than the upper edge 42 of back wall 44, and the upper edges 46 and 48 of side walls 50 and 52 incline downwardly from back wall 44 to front wall 40. Strengthening braces 54 extend across the table 24 to prevent bending.

A collar 56 having a flange 58 is fixedly mounted on the upper end of the shaft 16 and rotates therewith. Any

. desirable means may be employed to mount rigidly a circular plate 68 on the flange 58. A plurality of regularly spacedinverted L-shaped angle members 62 have theirrespective feet 64 secured to the plate 60 adjacent its periphery, the arms 66 thereof depending downward I therefrom to support a guide and insert member or chute 68, the function of which will be described below.

From Fig. .1 it is seen that the chute 68 is formed of a plastic composition and comprises a substantially flat rectangular upper portion 70 secured to the arm 66, while the lower end 72 is curved about its longitudinal axis and terminates in a pointed end 74. A pair of oppositely disposed inwardly extending and curvilinear sides 76, 7 8, integral with lower end 72, flare upwardly from each side of the-lower end 72 and extend over a portion thereof.

in the present invention, the number of chute or insert elements 68exactly corresponds to the number of hollow guides 28, and the pointed ends 74 are suspended above the open upper'ends 32 of the guides 28.

A fitting secures: the horizontal portion 82 of an L-shaped column 84 to the tubular support 6. Portion 82 extends beyond the periphery of the slide plate 12 and then continues into a vertical upwardly extending porti0n.86.,

The plate 88, provided with slot 90, is mounted on the portion 86 by bolts 92. i A normally operated lever arm 94 is pivotally mounted at 95 on the plate 83 adjaeent oneof its ends 96. Nut and bolt 98 secure the lever arm 94 in any adjusted'position. I has one of its ends pivotally connected at 182 with the ,end 96, While the other end thereof is rigidly secured to the underside of a vertically adjustable plate 104.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the plate 104 may be moved upwardly into the plane of the slide plate 12 between its adjacent ends 106, 108, or adjusted to some position therebelow. Lugs (Fig. 3) depend from the plate 164 and, are pivotally connected at 112 and 114 to one of the ends of the parallel spaced bars 116 and 118. Bracket provided with flanges 122 supports the other ends of bars 116, 118 on pivots 124, 126, and the bracket 120 is rigidly secured to the tubular support 6. The;

The link 1198 3 nected by a transmission belt 138 with a pulley 140 which is mounted on the input shaft 142 of any well-known speed reducer unit 144. The latter is secured by bolts 146 to the bracket 130. Output shaft 148 of the speed reducer 144 is connected to a crank 150 provided with crank-pin 152.

Pitman 154 (Figs. 3 and 7) has one of its ends rotatably mounted on the pin 152, the other end thereof being rotatably mounted on a crank-pin 156 of a crank 158, the latter being mounted for rotation on, and relative to, the shaft 16. Crank-pin 156 projects downwardly to support a pawl 160 spring biased to engage ratchet teeth 162 of a ratchet gear 164, the latter being rigidly secured by set screw 166 to the shaft 16 for rotation therewith.

As the pitman 154 moves from its broken-line position shown in Fig. 7 to the full-line position, it (see Fig. 6) engages against the curved arm 168 of a link 170. The other end 172 of the link is elongated and terminates in a laterally flared and reversely curved end portion 174.

As seen in Fig. 8, the link 170 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 176 carried at the upper end of a brace 178 whose lower end is rigidly secured to the slide plate 12. Spring 180 normally biases link 170 to maintain its end 172 above guides 28. The function of the link 170 will be further described below.

Reference is again made to Figs. 7 and 8 wherein it is shown that the vertical portion 86 of the column 84 rigidly supports an L-shaped bar 182, which in turn carries an electric heat-sealing unit. 'The unit comprises a pair of laterally spaced parallel shafts 184, 184', which are mounted for reciprocation through suitable openings formed in the bar 182 and through collars 186, 186'. A cross-plate 188 connects one of the respective ends of shafts 184, 184' and is maintained thereon by nuts 190, 190 threaded on the ends of their respective shafts.

The other ends of these shafts are connected by crossplate 192 which carries one electrical heating element jaw 194. Plate 192 is secured on the shafts by nuts 195, 195 threaded on the ends of their respective shafts. As seen in the drawings, the other jaw 196 is fixedly secured to the bar 182. Helical springs 198, 198 surround their respective shafts and are positioned intermediate the cross-plate 192 and collars 186, 186, whereby the jaw 194 is constantly urged to move away from the jaw 196 to take the broken line position illustrated in Fig. 8.

Each jaw is provided with a curved flexible guide 197, 199, serving a function to be described. Bar 182 is provided with a lateral boss 200 in which is rotatably received a pin 202 at one end of a crank 204. The lower end of the pin 202 has a cam 206 rigidly secured thereto and rotates therewith. The other end of the crank 204 is rotatably connected by a pin 208 to one end of a pitman 210, the other end thereof being rotatably secured to the crank-pin 152.

Switches 212 and 214, mounted on the vertical portion 86, are connected with a source of E. M. F., the former controlling the current to the heating elements of jaws 194, 196 through suitable leads (not shown), and the latter being connected in the motor circuit by proper leads (not shown).

Having described the component elements of this machine, the operation and function thereof is deemed manifest. Assuming that both switches 212 and 214 are open, the motor and heating elements are thus deenergized. The operator then closes switch 212 and, after permit ting sufi'icient time to lapse to heat jaws 194, 196, thereafter the operator closes switch 214 to energize the motor 134.

The motor 134 drives the speed reducer 144 which, in turn, rotates the crank 150. Referring to Fig. 7, as crank 150 rotates, the pitman 154 moves upwardly to force the pawl 160 into engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 162. Since the ratchet gear 164 is rigidly secured to the rotatable shaft 16, the shaft rotates in its bearings and also turns the circular plate 60 and the 4 table 24. When the pitman 154 reaches its dotted-line position, further rotation of crank causes the pawl to become disengaged from the tooth 162 and come to rest behind the succeeding tooth 162 (Fig. 7).

During this sequence of operations, as the pitman 154 moves from full to broken-line position, the pitman 210 rotates the crank 204 from full to broken-line position, which turns the cam 206 away from the cross-plate 188, whereby the springs 19S, acting on cross-plate 192, force the jaw 194 away from the jaw 196. It is to be noted that as the pitman 154 starts and completes its return stroke, the shaft 16, plate 60, and table 24 are stationary, while the cam 184 engages against the cross-plate 188 to force the jaw 194 into juxtaposition with respect to the jaw 196.

The operator takes his position in front of one of the chutes 68. A supply of pairs of hose and empty cello phane bags are conveniently located adjacent each hand. With one hand the operator selects one bag 216 and forces the open end thereof upwardly against the pointed end 74 and over the curvilinear sides 76, 78 of the mernber 68. This operation completely opens the bag and prepares it to receive a pair of hose which have been selected by the operators other hand simultaneously with carrying out of the aforesaid steps.

The operator then drops the hose into the chute 68 while the envelope or bag 216 is held lightly against sides 76, 73. When the hose hits against the bottom of the bag 216, the operator releases it to permit the bag and its contents to fall, under the force of gravity, into guide 28 which is aligned with the member 68 and through slot 26, coming to rest with its bottom edge engaging against slide 12. Shaft 16 is then rotated, in the manner described above, to bring the next pair of aligned guide 28 and chute 68 into position before the operator, where the operation is repeated.

As the table 24 is rotated, the envelope 216, whose upper edges project above the upper end 32 of the guide 28, is carried toward the adjustable plate 104. This plate is adjusted either upwardly or downwardly by lever 94 in order that the bag 216, as it moves thereon, will present to the heating element jaws 194, 196, a sufiicient portion of its upper edge to effect approximately a onehalf inch seal.

At the beginning of the next step in the periodic movement of the table 24, the upper end of the bag 216 is brought between the flexible guides 197, 199, and comes to rest between the jaws 194, 196. Pitman 210 now actuates the jaw 194, forcing it to move toward the jaw 196 against the tension of the springs 198, 198', to compress and seal the upper edge of the bag 216 (see Fig. 8). The cam 206 now turns in the opposite direction to permit the jaws 194, 196 to separate slightly before the pawl 160 engages the next ratchet tooth 162. Upon effecting this engagement, the table 24 is advanced one position, bringing the packaged hose in the bag 216 in alignment with the slot 128 in the adjustable plate 104. During this movement, the pitman 154 has moved from its full-line position (Figs. 6 and 7) to its broken-line position, allowing the spring 180 to force the end portion 174 of the link into the guide member 28 and against the upper end of the bag 216. This insures that the bag 216 will be expelled through the slot 128 to drop into a box or onto a conveyor for subsequent handling. The return of the pitman 154 permits the spring to raise the end 174, thereby completing the cycle.

Having described and illustrated this invention in de tail, it is to be understood that the present embodiment is offered by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

I. A method for packaging and sealing merchandise within a plastic container having an open end, comprising the steps of inserting said merchandise into said container through said open end, supporting said container unit to said slot, and discharging said sealed container.

and contents downwardly from said plate through said slot.

'2. A method for packaging and sealing merchandisewithin a plastic container having an open upper end, comprising the steps of supporting said container in a position spaced from and directly above a slide plate having a .slot formed therein, inserting said merchandise into said container through said open end, releasing said container with its contents to permit it to fall on said slide plate, moving said container and contents at periodic intervals toward and into a heat sealing unit, sealing said open end, moving said sealed container and contents from said unit and to a position over said slot, and discharging said sealed container with its contents downwardly from said plate through said slot.

3. A method for packaging and sealing merchandise within a plastic container having an open end, comprising the steps of forcing said open end over a hollow insert to open said container, dropping said merchandise through said hollow insert into said container, dropping said container with its contents ona stationary slide plate, moving said container and contents over said first plate and onto a second slide plate adjustable relative to the plane of said first plate and having a slot formed therein, moving said container and its contents on said second plate toward and into a heat sealing unit, sealing said open end of said container, moving said sealed container and its contents from said unit to a position above said slot, and discharging said container with its contents from said second plate-through said slot.

4. A method for packaging and sealing merchandise within a plastic container having an open end, comprising the steps of energizing an electrical heat sealing unit, energizing means to drive a pair of rotatable elements at periodic intervals, one of said elements being superposed over the other, forcing said open end of said container over one of a plurality of hollow inserts carried by the upper-most of said elements, dropping said merchandise through said hollow insert into said container, releasing said container to permit it to partially drop through one of a plurality of slots formed in the second rotatable element and aligned with said inserts coming to rest on a fixed slide plate positioned therebelow, said second element periodically forcing said container and merchandise to slide over said fixed slide plate toward and onto a second slide plate adjustable into and below the plane of said first plate and having a slot formed therein, said second element periodically forcing said container over said second plate toward and into a sealing unit, sealing said open end of said container while said rotatable'elernents are at rest, and during this period forcing a second container over a second hollow insert and dropping said merchandise through said hollow insert into said container, releasing said container to drop through a second slot formed in said second rotatable element to come to rest on said stationary plate, advancing said second rotatable element to force said first container with its contents sealed therein from said sealing unit to a position over said slot and simultaneously advancing said second container with its contents toward said second plate, and discharging said sealed container with its contents from said second plate through said slot formed therein.

5. A machine for packaging and sealing merchandise within a plastic container, comprising a support, a slide plate mounted on said support and having a slot formed therein, heat sealing means mounted on said support, guide means mounted on said support for holding an open-ended plastic container with merchandise therein in a substantially upright position on' said slide plate with its open end 'upand its lower end resting upon said slide plate, means for moving said guide means at periodic intervals to slide said container over said slide plate to said heat sealingmeans and then on to said slot, means actuating said heat sealing means to seal said container when positioned therein and while said guide means is at rest, and means for discharging said sealed container downwardly through said slot.

6. A machine for packagingand sealing merchandise Within plastic containers, comprising a support, an arouately shaped plate rigidly mounted on said support, a second slide plate adjustably mounted on said support for movement relative to the plane of said first slide plate, a

' shaft mounted for rotation within said support and extending thereabove, a circular table rigidly secured to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said circular table having a plurality of slots formed therein adjacent its periphery, a plurality of hollow guides rigidly secured to said table and each guide surrounding and projecting upwardly from one of said slots, a circular plate rigidly secured to the upper end of said shaft forrotation therewith and in spaced relation with respect to said circular table, a plurality of hollow pointed container opening and merchandise guiding elements depending from the periphery of said circular plate at spaced intervals, each of said lastnamed elements being disposed above one of said guides mounted on said table, means for driving said shaft at periodic intervals, and heat sealing means carried by said support and positioned above said adjustable slide plate.

7. A machine for packaging and sealing merchandise within plastic containers as defined in claim 6, said driving means including kinematic means for driving said shaft while rendering said sealing means inoperative, and vice versa.

8. A'machine for packaging and sealing merchandise within plastic containers as defined in claim 6, and manually operated means for adjusting the position of said adjustable slide plate relative to said arcuately shaped slide plate. U

9. A machine for packaging merchandise, comprising a table, a tubular guide mounted on the table and having a flaring upper end, and a chute fixedly mounted with respect to said table over the tubular guide in position to receive a receptacle therearound and to receive merchandise in the chute to be directed into the receptacle and to be dropped therefrom into the guide.

10. A machine for packaging merchandise, comprising a slide surfaceya movable table mounted over the slide surface and having a slot therein, a tubular guide mounted on the table and having an opening therethrough in register with the slot in the table, and a chute fixedly mounted with respect to said table over the tubular guide in position to receive a receptacle therearound and to direct merchandise through the chute into the receptacle to be dropped into the tubular guide.

11. A machine for packaging merchandise, comprising a slide surface, a movable table mounted over the slide surface and having a slot therein, a tubular guide mounted on the table and havingan opening therethrough in register with the slot in the table, said guide having a flaring open upper end, and a chute fixedly mounted with respect to said table over the tubular guide in position to receive a receptacle therearound and to direct merchandise through the chute into the receptacle to be dropped into the tubular guide.

12. A machine for packaging merchandise, comprising a slide surface, a movable table mounted over the slide surface and having a slot therein, a tubular guide mounted on the table and having an opening therethrough in register with the slot in the table, and a chute fixedly mounted with respect to said table over the tubular guide, said chute having a pointed lower end and curved sides in position to receive a receptacle fherearound and to direct merchandise through the chute into the receptacle to be dropped into the'tubular guide.

13. A machine for packaging merchandise, comprising a slide surface, a movable table mounted over the slide surface and having a slot therein, a tubular guide mounted on the table and having an opening therethrough in register with the slot in the table, a chute fixedly mounted with respect to said table over the tubular guide in position to receive a receptacle therearound and to direct merchandise through the chute into the receptacle to be dropped into the tubular guide, said slide surface having a discharge opening therein in position to register with the tubular guide, and an ejecting device mounted over the tubular guide in position to discharge the receptacle downwardly from the guide when the openings in the guide and the slide surface are in register with each other.

14. A machine for packaging merchandise, comprising a slide surface, a movable table mounted over the slide surface, a tubular guide mounted on the table and having an opening therethrough and through the table, a chute mounted over the tubular guide in position to receive a receptacle therearound and to direct merchandise through the chute in the receptacle for dropping into the tubular guide, a sealing device for the receptacle in position to embrace and seal the edges thereof, an auxiliary slide surface for the receptacle at the sealing device, and means for adjusting the height of the auxiliary slide surface relative to the sealing device.

15. A machine for packaging and sealing merchandise within a container comprising a support, a slide plate mounted on said support and having a slot formed therein, container sealing means mounted on said support, means for sliding an open-ended container with merchandise therein along a predetermined path on said slide plate past said sealing means to seal the open end of the container and then over the said slot, and means for engaging the upper portion of said container when the container is over said slot to positively eject the sealed container downwardly through said slot.

16. A machine for packaging and sealing merchandise in containers comprising a slide surface, a movable guide mounted over said slide surface to advance an open-ended container having merchandise therein along the slide surface, drive means for said guide, a sealing device mounted over the slide surface in position to receive and seal the open end of said container as the container rests upon said slide surface, and means for adjusting the position of said slide surface relative to the position of said sealing device to control the distance therebetween and the width of the seal produced by the sealing device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 354,094 Brown Dec. 14, 1886 977,632 Hoyt Dec. 6, 1910 2,102,840 Flechhiemer Dec. 21, 1937 2,103,945 Henley Dec. 28, 1937 2,162,464 Soderberg June 13, 1939 2,292,295 Royal Aug. 4, 1942 

